Thermostatic cut-off



March 27, 1928. 1,664,331

A. STOCKSTROM THERMOSTATIG CUT-OFF Filed April 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

ARTHUR STOCKS TRON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AS SIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STOVE com- '7 OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

'rnnnmosrarzc cur-err.

- Application filed April 1a, 1926. Serial no. 101,405.

This invention relates to improvements in thermostatic cut-ofi's and pertains more par ticularly to a device of this character wh ch is applied to the generator of a gasoline burner whereby the thermostat will operate as a safety cut-ofl' to stop the flow of fuel oil to the generator in the event that the generator valve should he accidentally opened when the burner is cold and to also operate in case the flame at the burner should be for any reason extinguished whlle the generator valve is open.

The advantages of a device of'this character are obvious as it will prevent the flooding of the burner with fuel oil which might cause a dangerous fire.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a thermostatically operated fuel cut-ofi for the generator of a liquid burnerc Another object of the invention is the provision of a thermostatic fuel cut-off which will prevent the admission of fuel to the generator or burner before the same have been heated.

Another and further object of the inventionis the provision of a thermostatic fuel cut-0E which will operate to stop the flow of fuel to the burner and its generator in the event the burner flame should be for any reason extinguished by other means than the manual fuel cut-01f valve.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of the invention of the character described which is cheap and simple to manufacture and highly eficient in operation.

Other objects, novel features of construction and improved results of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the generator and thermostatic valve in combination with a burner, the view being partially in section to illustrate the fuel mixing tube and fuel conduit to the burner.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the generator and the thermostatically operated cutoff valve.

Figure 3 is a view of the generator and thermostatic valve in combination with a burner, the burner being shown in vertical section.

Describing the invention in broad terms,

the generator tube is designated at A and is provided with a steel needle B, The ther mostatic cut-off mechanism is designated at C and is provided with a valve stem D,

The burner as an entirety is designated b E and the torch F is carried in the torc holder G.

Describing the invention in detail, there is provided a coupling 5 into which are screw threadably attached the parallel tubes A and C of the generator and the thermostatic cut-ofl mechanism. The coupling 5 is provided with a screw threaded end 6 adapted for connection witha suitable fuel supply (not shown) and is channeled internally from this end as at 7 to convey the fuel to the valve seat 8 adjacent the inner end of the thermostatic valve D. A by-pass 9 is rovided to convey the fuel from the tube G into the channel 10 of the coupling which is in communication with the inner end of the generator tube A.

The tube C is made of copper while the thermostatic, valve D is made of a high percentage nickel steel, which has the lowest coefiicient of expansion of the commercial metals, and is sometimes called invar metal. The outer end of the tube C is provided with a fitting 11 rigidly attached thereto as by screw threads 12. The outer end of the thermostatic valve D is threaded into the fitting 11 as at 13 and held and locked rigidly thereto by a suitable lock nut 14. The lbck nut 14 and outer end of the valve D are covered and protected by a suitable cap 15 threaded externally on the fitting 11.

By reason of the fact of the difference between the coefficient of heat expansion between the tube C and the valve D, it is necessary to have these parts adjustable in respect to one another. By reason of the probable wear of the end of (the valve and of the valve seat 8, it is likewise desirable that the valve be adjustable in respect to the seat. By reason of the threaded end 13 and the lock nut 14:, above mentioned, the adjustment of the valve for either purpose is readily and easily accomplished. As clearly appears the valve D is provided with a tabe seen that the generator is positioned so' and in communication with the this needle is provided with a tapered valve portion 18 adapted for engagement wit-h the valve seat 19 provided in the end of the generator tube A. The inner end of the tube is provided with a cap 20 having therein a small'outlet orifice 21 into which extends the elongated needle portion 22 of the generator needle valve when the valve is in closed position as appears in the drawings (Figure 1).

It has been found that in operation there is a tendency for the small orifice 21 to become clogged or partly closed by a carbon deposit. Through the medium of the needle portion 22 this orifice is cleaned each and every time the generator valve is operated from an open to a closedposition.

The burner E comprises a plurality of burner openings 23 which have communication with the mixing tube 24 through the conduits 24". The generator discharges the gasified fuel, as clearly appears in Figure 2 of the drawings, into the mixing tube and after being properly mixed with air, the fuel mixture passes through the conduits into the burner chamber 24". Referring again to this figure of the drawings, it will that aportion of its length is beneath the burner E and its burner outlets 23 and that the thermostatic valve is positioned below the generator. The burner E is provided with whatI have termed a sub-fire 25 positioned immediately below the generator tube, burner chamber 24 The torch holder G is supported from the burner in a suitable manner such as designated at 26 so that it is positioned beneath both the thermostatic valve and the generator -and theheat from the torch is directed against these members. i

The torch is provided with a handle 28 and is internally packed with a suitable absorbent. It is proposed that the stove utilizing this device will have means whereby the torch can be dipped into the fuel oil so that the absorbent thereof will be thoroughly saturated. This construction might be any conventional one or it mi ht be a construc tion such as appears in tl e pending patent application of Mr. Louis Stockstrom, entitled Hydrocarbon stove and burner therefor bearin Serial No. 34,355.

In operation t e preheating torch is ignited and inserted in the holder G below the burner, the generator and the thermostatic valve. The heat from the torch will of course heat the generator and the thermostatic valve and the heating of the thermostatic valve will cause the copper tube 0 thereof to expand and due to the valve D having a lower coefficient of expansion and i being rigidly attached to the tube, the valve end 29 is drawn away from the seat 8 and permits the passage of fuel into the generator by way of the by-pass 9 and the channel 10.

When the burner is in operation the subfire will keep the generator tube hot and will at the same time heat the thermostat sufliciently to hold the valve D open and thereby permit continued passage of fuel to the generator.

Should the generator valve remain open, it being understood of course that the generator valve is controlled through manual sub-fire at the burner 25 become extinguished for any cause, the thermostatic valve will become cool and will contract, thereby closing the admission of fuel at the valve seat 8 and prevent the flooding of the burner.

- Furthermore it will be readily apparent that even though the burner had not recently been in operation, the burner could not become flooded with fuel by the accidental opening of the generator valve as the thermostatic valve, in its normal position, stops all flow of fuel to the generator. It will furthermore be readily apparentthat the burner cannot be operated at any time until the thermostatic valve has been heated sufficiently to expand and thus permit the flow of fuel to the enerator.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that it is impossible to flood the burner with fuel oil. As the thermostatic valve is normally closed, the accidental opening of the generator valve would not supply any fuel to the burners whereas if the burner, durin erator valve'open, should for any reason he come extinguished, the thermostat would rapidly cool and act to cut off the fuel supply to the burnerqm Having thus described my'invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. The combination with a gasoline burner of a generator tube located adjacent to the operation with-the genoperation by the valve handle 17, and the burner and adapted to be heated by a flame therefrom, an oil passageway communicating with the inlet to the generator, :1 hand operating valve adapted to control the flow of vapor from the outlet end of the generator and a thermostatic tube also located adjacent the said burner and adapted to be heated b a flame therefrom, said thermostatic tu e located in the oil line, and an inner thermostatically operated member carrying at its end a valve adapted to control the said oil line, said thermostatic member maintaining therein a practically stationary body of oil and the valve of the thermostat adapted to normally close the oil passageway and when heated to open the said passa eway.

2. The combination with a gasoline burner of a generator tube extending transverse the said burner and adapted tov be heated by a flame therefrom, said generator tube carrying an elongated stem having at its outer end a valve for controlling the generator outlet located at one end of the generator, an oil passageway communicating with the opposite end of the generator, a thermostatic tubecommunicating also with the oil passageway, said thermostatic tube having therein an elongated member carrying a valve adapted to close the oil passageway when the thermostat is cooledand to open the oil passageway when it is heated, whereby a' practically stationary body of oil is located in the thermostatic tube substan-' tially as specified.

3. The combination with a gasoline burner of a generator tubeextending transverse the burner and adapted to be heated by a flame thereof, an oil passageway communicating with one end of the generator tube and an outlet'located at the opposite end of the generator tube, and an elongated thermostatic tube communicating with the oil passageway, said tube-extending from the passageway'ma direction transverse the said burner and ada ted to be heated by a flame thereof, a mem er located in this thermostatic tube having one end provided with a valve ada ted to close and open 'the oil passageway y means of the temperature of the said tube, the end opposite the valve on the inner member of the thermostatic tube adjustably connected with the thermostatic tube for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with a gasoline burner of a generator'tube extending transverse the said'burner and adapted to be heated by a flame thereof, an oil passageway communicating with one end of the generator tube and its opposite end provided with an outber within the thermostatic tube, said mem-.

ber having one end provided with a valve for closing the oil passageway and the opposite end of the said member adjustably connected with the adjacent end of the thermostatic tube, whereby a body of oil is maintained within the thermostatic tube when the burner is in operation. 7

5. The combination with a asoline burner of a generator tube locatez? beneath said burner and extending transverse thereof, an oil passageway. communicating with one end of the generator tube and the other end of the tube provided with an outlet, a' valve stems within the said tube having a valve adapted to control the said outlet, a thermo static tube located below the said aeratorand exending transverse the sai burner, the said thermostatic tube communicating with the oil passageway, a thermostatic member 'within the thermostatic tube and carrying a valve adapted to control the said oil passageway, the under side of the said burner providedwith burner openings for heating the said generator and the thermostat, whereby when the parts are cooled, the oil passageway is closed, and when they are heated, said passageway is opened for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof Lhereunto afiix my signature.

ARTHUR STOOKSTROM. 

